- The island of Sardinia, an Italian region, has a population that is highly interrelated. Researchers have developed the SardiNIA longitudinal study to examine the possible genetic factors that predispose individuals to diseases and to various inherited conditions. In the study, participants will be drawn from four towns in the Ogliastra region (Lanusei, Ilbono, Elini, and Arzana), and their DNA will be analyzed and compared with a long-term assessment of various health-related events. The SardiNIA study is designed to improve understanding of the genetic factors involved in age-associated diseases and disorders, and provide possible points of intervention that may help prevent diseases.

Objectives:

- To conduct a long-term study of genetics and epidemiology in a small and highly interrelated population.

Eligibility:

- Individuals at least 18 years of age (at least 14 years of age for Phase 1 of the study) who live in the province of Ogliastra in eastern Sardinia.

Design:

This 10-year study will involve three phases: collecting initial blood samples and medical history (years 1 to 4), and two sets of follow-up visits to collect additional data (3 years apart).

Participants will provide detailed medical history and information for long-term study, primarily involving the following aspects:

Demographic/family and clinical variables (e.g., medications, fertility, hospitalizations and surgical procedures, age of relatives who are still alive, age and cause of death in deceased relatives) (Phase 1)

Genetics and Epidemiology of Aging Associated Conditions in the Sardinian Population (SARDINIA)

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Estimated Enrollment:

15000

Study Start Date:

November 2003

Estimated Study Completion Date:

January 2015

Detailed Description:

The 1,500,000 people of the island of Sardinia arose from a much smaller number, starting thousands of years ago, with very little immigration from outside during that entire period. SardiNIA is a longitudinal study designed under the assumption that in highly interrelated population, such as the Sardinians, discovering the genetic factors that predispose individuals to disease and to other physiological characteristics is easier and more cost-effective. Thus far, group of 6,148 participants from a cluster of 4 towns in the Ogliastra region (Lanusei, Ilbono, Elini, and Arzana) has been assessed for about 100 quantitative traits, including a range of traits related to heart disease, features of personality, frailty, cognition and several blood tests (see Table 1). The DNA from all participants has been analyzed (genotyped) to look for variants of genes that are involved in determining the traits. Up to now, at least one gene has been discovered for each trait, including genes specific for levels of uric acid, fetal hemoglobin, cholesterol, etc. The analyses of genes are continuing, and are being extended to additional traits In addition, to improve the longitudinal perspective of the study, participants will be followed to detect the development on new health-related events or outcomes . This is done in 3 ways: 1) looking at genetic factors determining rates of change of levels of traits like blood pressure with age, based on repeated measures in currently ongoing second visits and planned third visits; 2) seeing which participants do or do not contract particular diseases, to test whether the genes discovered that affect risk factors can help to predict related health problems; and 3) comparing the DNA of disease-free participants in the study to DNA from Sardinian patients affected by particular diseases, to see if the genes already found or additional ones uncovered by the comparisons are involved in those diseases By looking at the development of outcomes, the SardiNIA project (called ProgeNIA for the population) further improves our understanding of the genetic factors involved in age-associated diseases and disorders. Those genes may then provide possible points of intervention that may yield routes to prevention of the diseases.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

14 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

The targeted region for the studies, Ogliastra, is an isolated population of 300,000 in an area enclosed by two mountain ranges and the sea. We will recruit from the 8,500 residents in the towns of Lanusei (the capital of the region), Arzana, Elini and Ilbono, independent of their health status.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

At baseline, individuals less than 14 years of age will be excluded from study enrollment. Over the following visits, only individuals 18 and over will be evaluated.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00182949

Locations

Italy

Italian National Research Council Institute of Neurogenetics and Neuropharmacolo